In theory, the survey sounds like a good idea, but Bodine wonders whether users might game the results. Though Robert Vosper, editor-in-chief of Inside Counsel, claims that only registered users who are in-house counsel can rank a firm, Bodine says that "it took [me] only 60 seconds to register and vote." Bodine then added one of his favorite client firms to the list and gave it top rankings in all eight categories -- thus demonstrating how the system can indeed be manipulated.

What's your opinion? Can user-based lawyer-rating systems work -- or are they always vulnerable to gamesmanship?

In theory, the survey sounds like a good idea, but Bodine wonders whether users might game the results. Though Robert Vosper, editor-in-chief of Inside Counsel, claims that only registered users who are in-house counsel can rank a firm, Bodine says that "it took [me] only 60 seconds to register and vote." Bodine then added one of his favorite client firms to the list and gave it top rankings in all eight categories -- thus demonstrating how the system can indeed be manipulated.

What's your opinion? Can user-based lawyer-rating systems work -- or are they always vulnerable to gamesmanship?